Dynamics of Livestock Development in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

newlineSince, 1971, when poverty eradicationand#8223; became the main theme of development planning, livestock development has been recognised by the Government of India as an important tool for poverty alleviation. The present study entitled Dynamics of Livestock Development in Himachal Pradesh was based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected from selected livestock rearers from all the zones of Himachal Pradesh, secondary data were collected from Directorate of Animal Husbandry-Shimla (H.P.) and other sources. It was found that at the state level, maximum increase of 25.77 per cent was recorded in buffalo population as against 1.05 per cent in cattle population in 2003 over 1982 census. Mandi and Kangra were the main districts, accounting for more than 16 per cent of the total livestock population of the state during 2003. Cows and buffaloes were the main milch animals across districts. It was found that there were 13 indigenous cows for every cross-bred cow in 1982 at the state level, 5 in 1992 and were reduced to 1.5 in 2003 and the number of indigenous bulls per cross-bred declined from 22 to 12 during 1982-92 and further declined to 5.9 during 1992-2003. Both goat (43.02 per cent) and sheep (27.65 per cent) registered an increase in meat production in 2006-07 over 1989-90, however, pig meat showed a decrease of 68.28 per cent. In Himachal as a whole desi eggs showed a decrease of 11.38 per cent, improved eggs showed an increase of 127.72 per cent in 2007-08 over 1989-90.The overall sex-ratio of the sampled farmers was 842, family size was 5.32 and overall literacy rate was estimated to be 78.46 per cent. Maize in kharif and wheat in rabi season were the most important crops occupying 35.44 per cent and 41.32 per cent of the total cropped area, respectively. The productivity of local cow was highest in Zone I (858 litre/annum), followed by Zone IV (795 litre/annum) and productivity of cross-bred cow was highest in Zone I (2,509 litre/annum), followed by Zone IV (2085 litre/annum). O